Headrest



April 30, 1968 w, w BRANNER 3,380,694

HEADREST Filed Sept. 19, 1966 WV ENT OR WOODROW W. BQANNEP ATTORNEY United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to a device for supporting the head of a person while resting in a reclining or substantially prone position. In one such position he may rest his chin upon it. The device disclosed is a headrest having a base, which may be temporarily fixed in or on the ground, and a head supporting upper portion which is formed with a central depression for accommodating the chin of the user, and a trough extending radially from the depression to the periphery of the support to accommodate his throat, adjacent his chin. This head supporting upper portion may be suitably lined, and may also be adjustable vertically relative to the base to suit the comfort of the user.

The present invention relates to headrests, and more particularly to such rests adapted to support the head of a person in several positions, one of which being with the chin resting on the device.

Some of the prior art in this field is shown in United States Patents 1,940,361 to A. I. May, and 2,239,003 to S. R. Jones, both of which disclose rests for supporting the head of a user, but which do not disclose the novel features of the instant invention.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a headrest or support for use at the beach, on the lawn, or elsewhere where it is desirable to support the head above the ground, such as while resting, reading or ob serving environmental activities.

"Another object of the invention is the provision of a head support member having a concave upper surface and a cushion lining therein to assure a comfortable pillowing for the users head.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a central depression and/0r trough in the upper surface of the support member for receiving and supporting the chin and throat of the user while he is resting in a substantially prone position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a base for the headrest which permits use of the device on sand and/ or on more solid ground.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as it is better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away and in section for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, with a portion of one element broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a modified for-m of the invention.

With further reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a headrest comprising a head support member 11 and a base 12 united by a stem 13. The base may vary in form. In FIG. 1, it is substantially a disc with a relatively thin peripheral edge 14; and in FIG. 3, the base, or lower end of the stem, is pointed, as at 16. Furthermore, whatever the form of the base, it may be either integrated with the stern (FIG. 3), or joined therewith through a height adjusting means 17 (FIG. 1) which may comprise a telescoping connection between a lower, externally threaded portion 18 of the stem 13 and an internally threaded upper portion 19 of the base 12. The height of the headrest may thus be varied by relative rotation between the base and stem, and these parts may be secured or locked at a desired height by tightening a lock or sets crew 21 which is threadedly mounted in the base portion 19 with the inner end of the screw adapted to engage and lock the stem'13 against relative rotation with the base when it is screwed inwardly.

When the base 12 is formed with a thin peripheral edge 14 (FIG. 1) it is particularly well adapted for use in or on sand. The thin edge permits the user to cut or dig the base into the sand and set it with the stem in a vertical or inclined position, as desired. Furthermore, the relatively large area of the bottom of the base prevents the headrest from sinking further into the sand.

When th'e'base is pointed, as at 16, the headrest is adapted for use on more solid or stable ground, such as that of a lawn. Here, the pointed base is forced into the ground at the desired angle to position the head support member at an elevation and inclination most comfortable for the user.

The head support member may be formed with a periphery 22 of various configurations, but it is preferably circular; and its upper surface 23 is preferably concave so that it is adapted to receive and to support comfortably the back or side of the head of the user in a slightly elevated position when he is reclining on the ground. To add to the comfort of the user, it is preferred to cover the concave surface 23 and periphery 22 of the head support 11 with a cushion liner 24 which may be of some suitable soft material such as foam plastic. The liner 24 may be adhesively secured to the concave surface 23 and/or extend downwardly over the edge 22 and thence inwardly under the periphery of the support member to retain the liner in place.

The head support member 11 is also preferably formed with a substantially centrally located chin supporting depression 26 and/ or a throat supporting trough 27 extending radially outwardly to the edge 22 of the support member. The liner 24 should preferably conform to the shape of the depression 26 and trough 27.

In FIG. 1, at A, the lower face, chin, and throat of a user are shown, in dot and dash outline, in positions relative to the depression 26 and trough 27.

This chin and throat supporting feature-of the invention make the headrest particularly comfortable for use when the body of the user is in a prone position and his head is supported by resting his chin and a contiguous portion of his throat in the depression 26 and trough 27, respectively, of the headrest.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be apparent from the foregoing description and it is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A headrest comprising:

a head support member having a concave upper surface for receiving and supporting a portion of the head of the user,

said upper surface being formed with a substantially central depression for accommodating the chin of the user;

a stem extending downwardly from a substantially central portion of the bottom of said support member; and

a base member at the lower end of said stem for engagement with the ground.

2. A headrest as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base is a disc having a thin peripheral edge whereby it may ice . 3 t I readily be dug into beach sand, and the like, to the desired 'depthand angle for comfort. 1 a Y 3. A headrest as set forth in claim 1 wherein said concave surface of the head support member is also for-med with a trough extending radially from said depression to the periphery of the support member for accommodating the throat of the user adjacent his chin.

4. A headrest as set forth in claim 1 wherein said concave surface and the surface of said depression are provided with a cushion lining conforming substantially to said surfaces and also extending over and around the periphery of said support member.

5. A 'headrest as set forth in claim 4 wherein said concave surface of the head support is also formed with a trough extending radially from said depression to the periphery of the support member for accommodating the throat of the user adjacent his chin, and said cushion lining also covers and conforms to the shape of said trough.

6. A headrest as set forth in claim 5 wherein height adjusting means are provided in said stem for varying the distance between said support member and said base. i

7. A headrest as set forth in claim 6 wherein said head support and base members are circular, and the radius of said head support member is less than the distance between the chin and neck of the intended user.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,361 12/1933 May 248-118 X 2,239,003 4/1941 Jones 5-338 X 2,484,263 10/1949 Atkinson 248-156 X 2,720,249 10/1955 Peterson 108150 X FOREIGN PATENTS 825,144 12/ 1951 Germany. 251,373 7/ 1948 Switzerland.

ROY FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

